Samuel Firstman

Samuel Firstman (1897-1977)

Samuel Firstman - conductor. Born February 5, 1897 in Odessa (Kherson Governorate of the Russian Empire; now Ukraine).

Emigrated to New York as a young teenager in 1913. He arrived at Ellis Island with only one possession: a balalaika, which he had learned to play in Russia and became adept enough to earn money teaching others.  Soon after his arrival in New York, he took up the mandolin and mastered other instruments in the mandolin family -- the mandola and mandocello -- and in 1919 he joined the Workmen's Circle Orchestra. In 1924, he founded  the Freiheit Orchestra, borrowing the word for "freedom" used by the left-wing Yiddish language Freiheit newspaper. The orchestra grew to more than 90 members and was soon renamed the New York Mandolin Symphony Orchestra. 

With the gradual loss of older members of the original orchestra after World War II, Firstman renamed the group the New York Mandolin Symphonette in 1958. He continued to conduct and arrange all the music for the orchestra's recordings and its annual concert at New York's iconic Town Hall and later Carnegie Recital Hall. Throughout the years, he was also one of the best-known mandolin teachers in New York. In addition to his music, Firstman was a prolific illustrator and graphic artist. 

Passed away on September 15, 1977 and is buried in Wellwood Cemetery, Long Island. After his death, long-time and new members revitalized and expanded the orchestra and reverted to the name New York Mandolin Orchestra. They celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024.

Richard Firstman

[78RPM]

A Maiseh (Zishe Weinper - Yasha Freedman) ² Masha Benya & Kindervelt Ensemble ¹

78RPM Kinder Velt 2545 B 1950

Folk Nigun (Joel Engel) ² New York Mandolin Symphonette ¹

See the known reissue discography : 2

33RPM

Tikva LPT-843-A

33RPM

Tikva LPT-943-A

Hoidelke (Moyshe Shifris - Yasha Freedman) ² Masha Benya & Kindervelt Ensemble ¹

78RPM Kinder Velt 2545 B 1950

Tzigele (Yasha Freedman) ² Masha Benya & Kindervelt Ensemble ¹

78RPM Kinder Velt 2545 B 1950

¹ conducted by Samuel Firstman

² arranged by Samuel Firstman

Last update 17-01-2026